ASIX Electronics Corp. and TRG Components are pleased to announce a distribution agreement that covers TRG's locations in the US and the UK.

This recently announced strategic partnership comes at a time of rapid growth for both ASIX Electronics and TRG Components, and represents a major opportunity for both firms to broaden their market presence.

There is a growing need to add network connectivity into every embedded system. Based on reports by Forrester Research, by the year 2010, up to 95% of the devices used to access the Internet will be non-PC devices that use an embedded system. In other words, the network connectivity of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication will be the primary market demand for the embedded networking system for the years to come.

Ethernet's ease of use, cost effectiveness, high bandwidth, stability, security, and a high degree of compatibility makes it a natural solution for accessing the Internet. In addition to SOHO and corporate networks, Ethernet is gradually making its way into consumer and household devices as a primary way to access the Internet, satisfying both the stability and reliability demanded by industrial users and the bandwidth and multimedia connectivity demanded by home consumers.

As the demand for M2M increases in the embedded networking market, ASIX can meet customers' needs for reduced time-to-market and development costs by providing three different embedded Ethernet solutions. The first solution targets devices with micro-controller, which comes without PCI bus interface, but with a non-PCI or SRAM type interface. In this case, the highly integrated Non-PCI bus Ethernet MAC+PHY controller is used to connect these devices to Ethernet. This solution provides the easiest way to connect the embedded system to the network for the reason that majority of the micro-controller all support Non-PCI local bus interface. The engineers are able to design very low cost, and yet high performance embedded systems, which offer remotes access capabilities in addition to Internet connectivity.

The second solution targets those micro-controllers that already have USB Host interface embedded. In this case, an internal or external USB-to-LAN controller can be used to connect these devices to Ethernet. This solution is suitable for computer peripherals, handheld devices, home electronics and appliances, streaming media, broadband media, and other consumer electronics such as USB to Ethernet converter, USB WiMax adaptor, docking stations, cradles, and USB KVM Ethernet switches etc.

The third solution is those micro-controllers, which already integrate both Ethernet MAC and PHY functions, the so-called single chip SoC solution. This solution makes the devices very compact, and is suitable for home appliances, factory/building automation, industrial equipments, security systems, remote control/monitoring/management, and streaming media applications such as POS terminals, vending machines, IP camera, Internet radio, automatic meter reading, environmental monitoring systems, network sensors, networked UPS, Serial to Ethernet adapter, and Ethernet to ZigBee bridge, can also find this solution quite attractive in cost, space, and power consumption-wise.

About ASIX

ASIX Electronics Corporation (www.asix.com.tw) is a leading fabless semiconductor supplier with a focus on networking, communication and connectivity applications. ASIX was founded in May 1995 in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan. ASIX specializes in network connectivity solutions and provides Ethernet-centric silicon products such as non-PCI Ethernet controller, USB 2.0 to LAN controller, and network SoC for embedded networking applications. ASIX provides innovative, and yet cost effective products to the customers for emerging communication and networking applications.

About TRG

The Republic Group's Electronic Components Division (TRG Components) (www.trgcomponents.com) has been a leader in sales and distribution of electronic products for over 40 years. TRG strives to build lasting relationships with its suppliers and customers alike by offering a unique blend of products and services from offices in the US and Europe. TRG will stock a wide range of ASIX's products throughout its network of offices and international locations and will aggressively work to grow ASIX's market share in both Europe and North America.

For more information about ASIX's products or to request samples or design support, contact TRG Components today.